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Feeling his chest with new pressure, Ashley peers from the hat, and sees him. Happiness pushes through him, his chest warm. The tropical paradise was warm, but it was always warmer with Kep.[break][break]

But if he thinks he's getting away with just sitting on a chair, nah. This hammock was built for two.[break][break]

"Get up here. Plenty of room." He's holding his arms out to Kep. The sun wonderful, but the shade here was the perfect blend of hot and cool. The summer was still going strong, and Alola was perfect this time of year. It reminded him of the best parts of Castelia, without all the filth in the corners.[break][break]

Hoenn was a cesspool. It would keep swirling till everyone found the drain. Alola was a palette cleanser.[break][break]

Being able to take Kep here was more important than anything else. He's not made of money, he can't afford the big hotels, but this was good enough for them together. The hammock by itself was an amenity he'd happily pay for again. Judging from Mighty and Sarabi enjoying it too, he'd agree...[break][break]

"I want to."[break][break]

His heart beats harder again. Wake-up was nice. Day in and day out, Kep was always there.[break][break]

"I'm glad you came with me."

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Tipping over was hardly the worst thing they'd ever gotten into. "Wouldn't mind if you did." This was so peaceful, that would be the only problematic, yet exciting thing that would happen. Sure enough, Kep does. With one of his beefier arms, he holds Kepler tightly. A kiss lined for his forehead right from the get, a welcome mat as a hand snakes its way to his hip.[break][break]

His grin, his smile. It's magic. Like waves washing away the shame and the sorrow of Rocket, it feels like a distant memory now.[break][break]

"You don't have to thank me." Silver eyes look on happily, Ash pressing his forehead to his love's. He closes his eyes... all while Mighty and Sarabi just snore away, enjoying that their other dad was present too.[break][break]

Ashley feels the tug at his heart... he needs to say it. But for once, he just wants to enjoy a little peace of mind. He tucks it away.[break][break]

"You know. It's almost our anniversary in a couple months... and we're already getting hitched." End of the world, consistent life or death circumstances, and the political climate of Hoenn seemed to lead them here. But it does have him smile. "We're not going too fast, are we?" Even if he says that, his hand still stays on Kep's hip. Even saying that, he wanted this.[break][break]

Feelings betray worry. Not even worried anymore of the now. The future, however...

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It almost seemed too nice. Too happy. And... with the golden sun in the sky, the smell of salt, the rush of the sea... a piece of hipbone attached to his palm, Ashley started to wonder if he even deserved this.[break][break]

A small fumble to his mood. His brow creases, his heart pounds away. He did pull Kep here to the beach. He pulled Kep into everything, and now, he was going to cause so much discourse. But Ashley is selfish. He's a coward in that sense. He cuts what he doesn't want, and holds on with everything he has to the things he has. His back bends harder under the weight, and it piles on, and on. It's already too much.[break][break]

But seeing Kep here... that weight isn't so great.[break][break]

Instead of a response immediately, with his boyfriend around him, Ashley kisses him quietly. "You might have seen it on your own... but I'm glad I can share this with you all the same. I make so many mistakes, I wondered if I even deserved it..." He can feel himself wanting to loathe, but it doesn't come. How many times had he fucked up? How much would he continue to do that? How much weight can he take? Hoenn would push it all back on, but now... he could relax.[break][break]

"Heh. You're right." He comments on the apocalypses. Meteno. Bits and pieces of that one mission, what was it... Galar? Where they had even married in that memory... he thinks, anyways. The memory isn't all too easy to remember anymore. But there's a pain to it that lingers.[break][break]

His heart beats harder for Kep to hear as he wishes. The gentle thumping, the beating, bleeding heart. He can't help but feel it. He's selfishly holding on still, and he won't let it go anymore. He ran once, and now...[break][break]

He made up his mind. "You make me happy."[break][break]

So simple and in the air now. The smell of sea salt and love.

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Ash knows better than to ever retaliate with claims of undeservedness. He knows better, and when he feels those palms on his chest, Kepler rising up, the silver haired man stares deeply into Kep's.[break][break]

And then came the kiss again. Softly, and wholesomely. Ash is so worried to let go, to go back to where they were.[break][break]

For himself. For Kep. For Hoenn. The future ahead is dark... and he doesn't know how to put it to words. But he looks at the engagement ring on his finger... and he smiles. Hands move over Kepler more, and more, as he finally somehow tears away, finally able to breathe normally out of the intoxicating, wonderful lip-lock, hands brushing Kep's bangs. One of them anyways.[break][break]

The other, firmly planted on his posterior.[break][break]

That's right... he still remembered Galar. Bits and pieces. He smiles. "Maybe... we can extend the trip just a little longer too. To find Chocobo. Eh, Kepler Brueshaber? Or should it be Kepler Shepard?" He wants to do all the things Kep wants to do. He wants to help Kep more than anything now.[break][break]

While he still can.

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It's an addiction, really. A feeling he knows well. Everything doesn't make sense in Hoenn right now, for here, things do. He'd continue kissing and doing little else on this hammock, but they did need to address it.[break][break]

Chocobo first. A mission, a personal one to find the bird. And Ashley, hands a little more full, has him nod in kind. "Tell me about it. Feels like every day, a new legend comes knocking on our door." He sighs, brows twitching. But in his desperation to find Chocobo... a hand cups Kep's cheek, a loving look of silver. "I'll help you every step of the way."[break][break]

Now as for that last name...[break][break]

"Would you have preferred Kepler Sawyer?" A little catty, he gets a smug look on his face, the name sounding infinitely worse than Shepard. "Or maybe Ashley Brueshaber?" He finds himself almost trip up the surname.[break][break]

Maybe his hand moves a little more to firmly grasp what he's holding. Not the one on his cheek. Well. Not the cheek on his face, anyways.[break][break]

"Hey."[break][break]

He lovingly kisses Kep's cheek. "Anything you want to do first while on vacay?" He honestly doubts breaking the hammock in is the first on the docket. Ash had been wrong before.

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